RICKY Hatton's father and advisor Ray has spoken of the family's relief after promoter Frank Warren dropped his legal case against the pair.

Warren announced last weekend that he was ending his action against the Hattons, instigated last year after claiming Ricky was in breach of contract when he left Sports Network for rival promoters Fight Academy.

Ray said: "We're obviously relieved because Ricky's had this hanging over him for the last two fights.

"It came out of the blue. Frank wanted a meeting with our lawyers, who then informed us he was dropping the case rather than go to trial which was set for October 2 at the High Court.

"I think he's said something about possibly working together in future which, while I know some people were bitter about how things went, I always said 'never say never' because you can make a fool of yourself if you say you won't work with someone again and then go and do so.

"If Ricky Hatton is offered certain beneficial things, then as his advisor, I've got to look after him because he's my first concern.

"Boxing's a short life and Richard's coming to the end of his career because he always said he wanted to retire around the age of 30, and wasn't going to be someone who drifted into old age when his performances got worse and everyone remembered him as being over the hill."